Yamba (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Yamba reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Yamba (NSW) is around 7,181, reflecting a 12.1% increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,405 people. This growth was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 6,740 in Jun 2024 and an additional 654 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 425 persons per square kilometer. Yamba's population growth exceeded that of Rest of NSW (5.9%) and its SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Interstate migration contributed around 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 888 persons by 2041, reflecting a gain of 6.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Yamba among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Yamba shows approximately 92 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 460 homes were approved, with an additional 127 approved so far in FY-26. The average population increase per dwelling built over these five years was 0.9 people.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $513,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

In FY-26, there have been $3.3 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating limited commercial development focus. Recent construction comprises 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Yamba's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 42 people per dwelling approval, Yamba exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Yamba is projected to gain 447 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Yamba has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Yamba Heights Residential Subdivision, West Yamba Shopping Centre, Yamba Quays Canal Estate Development, and Yamba Sewerage Treatment Plant Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Yamba demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Yamba has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.3%. As of December 2025, 2,447 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.5% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was lower at 42.7%, compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Based on Census responses in December 2025, 15.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area had a high specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employed only 2.7% of local workers, below Regional NSW's 5.3%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census working population versus resident population comparison. During December 2024 to December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.3%, and labour force increased by 3.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.8% labour force decline, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yamba's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 shows that income in Yamba is below national averages. The median income is $41,409 while the average stands at $53,581. This contrasts with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates for Yamba are approximately $45,078 (median) and $58,328 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Yamba fall between the 7th and 12th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 29.5% of individuals earn between $800 - $1499, differing from broader area patterns where those earning $1500 - $2999 dominate at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Yamba, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Yamba is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Yamba, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.5% houses and 24.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yamba was at 53.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (18.4%) or rented (28.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,630, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Yamba was $400, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Yamba's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Yamba features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.4% of all households, including 16.6% that are couples with children, 38.7% that are couples without children, and 9.4% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 34.6%, with lone person households at 31.5% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational attainment in Yamba aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 19.8%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 28.2%.

A substantial 21.8% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.7% in primary education, 5.5% in secondary education, and 2.1% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transportation in Yamba indicates that there are 42 active transport stops currently operating. These consist of a mix of ferry and bus services. A total of 29 individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 348 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 258 meters from the nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 87%, while walking accounts for 9% and cycling makes up 3%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, some 15.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 49 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 8 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Yamba are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Yamba's health indicators show below-average outcomes, according to AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,459 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (14.1%) and mental health issues (7.8%). 57.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 38.1% of residents aged 65 and over (2,735 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Yamba is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Yamba's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.8% of its population born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 96.4% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Yamba is Christianity, which accounts for 54.4% of the population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestry, the top three groups in Yamba are English (33.7%), Australian (29.1%), and Irish (10.2%).

Notably, Scottish representation is higher than regional averages at 9.8%, while Welsh is at 0.7%. The percentage of Australian Aboriginal population in Yamba is 3.4%, compared to the regional average of 4.6%.

Yamba ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Yamba is 56 years, notably exceeding Regional NSW's average of 43 years and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 65-74 age group represents 18.8% of Yamba's population, compared to Regional NSW, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 7.9%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 7.4% to 8.8%, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 9.3% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.9% to 12.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Yamba's age structure. The 85+ cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 55%, adding 206 residents to reach 580. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.